I believe everyone’s life has a purpose. We are here to discover that purpose then use whatever gifts were bestowed upon us to make this world a better place. Some of us are fortunate as we know at an early age what that purpose is. Others, well, we go along, often digressing from the road that will take us there. This is me. Now on the other side of 50, I am finding my way back to that road that will lead to my life’s purpose. Welcome to my journey.

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Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Glue it Tuesday and Morning Reading Ritual

Glue
it Tuesday

The creative mess before the final page is completed.

Collage August 6

My original idea was use layer upon layer of tissue paper inspired bythese beautiful
collages.While her collage included paint,
washi tape, and perhaps stickers, I wanted to stay within the confines of what
I set for my glueblook; paper and glue only.I discovered my Fiskars large
square punch tore the tissue paper so I had to rethink my original idea. I went back to my scrape basket and used scrapbook
paper. While I was disappointed that my original
idea of sticking strictly with tissue paper failed, this was fun, therapeutic
and doesn’t look half bad.I will try doing
this again in another journal applying her idea of starting with a paint base,
adding paper then using washi tape, different shaped paper and stickers with ink.I have very few punches so I am going to have
to hook up with someone who does before taking this on.

Morning
Reading Ritual

Someone
asked me about the books I was reading in this
Monday mugshot photo. It has taken years for me to get to this place where
I get up and feed my soul daily. I have to contribute the staying power of
this attempt at a routine to being laid off from teaching. Take away the stress of writing lesson plans,
grading endless stacks of papers, and putting science labs together and voilà! time appears. Until now I have not been good at sticking
with it consistently. Consistency is not a word I would ever use to describe
myself. My routine was always dictated by
the crisis of the moment whether it was preparing for a science lab or grading
final exams, going on a cleaning frenzy for my son’s open house, or weeding the
flowerbeds before the spring weeds took over.
Now with most of those crises eliminated, I am able to focus on the
important.

The books changed often,
too. Sometimes I would start a book
before completing the one I was reading.
My bedside table and living room was littered with stacks of books in varying
degrees of completion. I rarely read one
book at a time. Sometimes I would have
as many as 7!

After
being laid off I found it easier to settle into a routine. I also noticed I settled into reading the
same couple of books which I found fed the most basic needs of my soul. I begin by lighting
a candle. As I light it, I hold the intention I have for the reading that
day. As I read, I write down what speaks to me or questions I have. Sometimes an art journal page will form in my
mind and if time allows I go to my office to begin working on it.

Is there a special book that helped you during a troubling period in
your life? Do you have a book of daily messages that you try to read every day? I would love to know what you are reading that fuels your soul.

2 comments:

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Oooh...I know about the teaching draining your soul...I taught middle school in urban NYC & it really took a toll on me...I loved it, but it did drain me. Keep on at it, you WILL find your voice & restore soul! I love your morning ritual! PEACE to you! :)

I just discovered your blog through The Stylish Studio and I am glad I did.I have just retired from teaching and seeking a morning routine. One goal I have set for myself is to read the New Testament in the next year. I start and stop and then continue. I think once summer is over and I can settle into a routine it wil help. Love the description of yours. Will have to check out those books.

THE JOURNEY

One day you finally knewwhat you had to do, and began,though the voices around youkept shoutingtheir bad advice--though the whole housebegan to trembleand you felt the old tugat your ankles."Mend my life!"each voice cried.But you didn't stop.You knew what you had to do,though the wind priedwith its stiff fingersat the very foundations,though their melancholywas terrible.It was already lateenough, and a wild night,and the road full of fallenbranches and stones.But little by little,as you left their voices behind,the stars began to burnthrough the sheets of clouds,and there was a new voicewhich you slowlyrecognized as your own,that kept you companyas you strode deeper and deeperinto the world,determined to dothe only thing you could do--determined to savethe only life you could

The Dark Night Of The SoulBy Saint John of the CrossTranslated by A.Z. Foreman

Songs of the soul rejoicing at having achieved the high state of perfection, the Union with God, by way of spiritual negation.

Once in the dark of night,Inflamed with love and wanting, I arose(O coming of delight!)And went, as no one knows,When all my house lay long in deep repose

All in the dark went right,Down secret steps, disguised in other clothes, (O coming of delight!)In dark when no one knows, When all my house lay long in deep repose.

And in the luck of nightIn secret places where no other spied I went without my sightWithout a light to guideExcept the heart that lit me from inside.

It guided me and shoneSurer than noonday sunlight over me,And lead me to the oneWhom only I could seeDeep in a place where only we could be.

O guiding dark of night!O dark of night more darling than the dawn!O night that can uniteA lover and loved one,Lover and loved one moved in unison.

And on my flowering breastWhich I had kept for him and him alone He slept as I caressedAnd loved him for my own,Breathing an air from redolent cedars blown.And from the castle wall The wind came down to winnow through his hairBidding his fingers fall,Searing my throat with airAnd all my senses were suspended there. I stayed there to forget.There on my lover, face to face, I lay.All ended, and I letMy cares all fall awayForgotten in the lilies on that day.

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Welcome to my blog! I am married, a high school science teacher, a marine mom, and former army drill Sargent. I find myself at a point in my life where I am experiencing new adventures and a sudden surge in creativity. My brain decided "enough with all that left brained stuff, let's play with your right brain for a while". I now enjoy art journaling, mixed media art, photography, and I recently started swapping my art on Swap-Bot. Who knew one's life could change so drastically! I'm lovin' it!